without distinction.

Christian missionaries were known as (from the Portuguese word padre, "father" or "priest") or (from the Portuguese irmão, "brother"). Contemptuous transcriptions such as ??? and ???? (which use kanji with negative connotations) came into use during the Edo Period when Christianity was a forbidden religion.

Portuguese ships began arriving in Japan in 1543, with Catholic missionary activities in Japan beginning in earnest around 1549, mainly

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